palmerleeberry

When I first heard the news that another company called Southern Star Amusements were going to buy the old flooded site once known as "Six Flags New Orleans" and build it back up, I was very excited ( )! I've been to this park a year before Hurricane Katrina struck and I though it was a good little park and was sadden to hear the news of this park's closing due to the tragedy ( ). "Maybe this park will be rebuilt and reopened once again? Still, a serious and terrible thought flooded into my mind (no pun intended ): "If this company is planning to rebuild and reopen the park by next season of 2009, then how by the name of John Miller (roller coaster pioneer) are they going to accomplish such a feat?" Now I don't want to be a nag, but think of all the work that needs to be done! First, the park needs to be drained, then once the ground is dried off, inspection and clean up is to be done; there's no telling which rides can be saved and what about these new rides the company is planning on adding? Futhermore, are there any plans to prevent the park from flooding should another hurricane hit this area? Still, this is the beginning of the 21 century and the work forces have big machineries to use, not to mention thousands of local people that could be hired in reconstructing this amusement park. If Extreme Makeover - Home Edition taught me anything, it's that a huge team of builders can demolish and rebuild a house in just a week. I'm hoping that this is the case: Southern Star comes in, the park is rebuilt and reopened, flocks of tourist comes in to spend the much needed capital, and Discovery Channel airs a two hour special called "Rebuilding (the new park's name)" Still, it's me (the hopeless optimistic) that's talking. I guess all we can do is hope and pray for the best; if this becomes a reality, then I'm planning to visit the newfangled park in 2009; Otherwise, I'll just !!!

"Oh, let the speculations continue . . ." Hmm, something cooler is coming to season 2009 at Hersheypark with an announcement on July 1, 2008. Already, Hersheypark has the hottest coaster called Fahrenheit and a new flat ride called The Howler coming this season, so what new attraction could Hersheypark add to be "cooler" and will it add or replace a ride in the park? First clue: look at the location where the sign announcing that new attraction is located. If the new attraction was to an addition to the Boardwalk, then wouldn't the sign be placed there? Instead, the new sign is placed outside the waterway (used for paddle boats) that is between the Superdooperlooper station and section of track from the The Great Bear, possible meaning that the new attraction could be placed there. Second clue: the Coal Cracker is missing its drop. Now, this could mean that the park is rehabing the log flume drop, or this could mean that the park is planning to replace the Coal Cracker with another attraction, maybe a water coaster. Third clue: Knowing what attractions the park doesn't have. It does have a Kissing Tower, but not a drop tower, although I cannot see how a drop tower would fit into that area unless they are very crafty by adding a new addition. In conclusion, I have no idea what the new attraction could be! So I guess we all have to wait until July 1 and find out. "Oh, let the speculations continue . . ."

^ Okay, that may be the case, but still - "I'm still not gonna ride that!!!" I'll just stick to my kick-butt coasters, scary-looking flat rides, and merry-go-rounds.

What a great Thread! I was !!! Many thanks for a great lesson in the Matterhorn, its history, its secrets, and even its layout. I got to ride this cute little coaster three times when I was at Disneyland in 2000 (once on the left and twice on the right). You could even say that the Matterhorn would later act as a blueprint and inspiration for another great coaster that would, in 2006, debute at Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom, called "Expedition Everest" (in which I rode six times!).

CocaColaBoy wrote in regards of wedgies from H,E, (double hockey sticks) : Not only that, it also prevents getting your (*ahem*) "family jewels" wacked hard, like someone kicked you in the groin (believe me, I had that happen to me before and I had to be rescued - don't you know how embarrassing it is to have a lifeguard rescue you because of a terrible pain between your legs and you can't leave the pool). As for the attraction itself, I think it would be neat design, but only one waterslide? C'mon, a tower that size can & should house several waterslides, but from a lower starting point, so the riders can work themselves up to tackle the big one, if they so desire.

I've seen some crazy loops in my time, but they were all on roller coasters! I can't see such a concept designed for an enclosed water body slide for several reasons, one of which is I don't trust that anyone rider that enters that ride could side down fast enough to go around the enclosed loop. Another concern is what happens when an unfortunate rider doesn't gather enough speed to get around the loop & gets stuck at the bottom? And what about the water: does it have gravity to make it around the loop or does it need powerful jets like they use on the Master Blaster to make the trip? I cannot fathom myself riding that, besides, I weigh 250lbs, which is more than the maximum weight requirement to ride this ride. That's okay; if I wanted to go upside down, I have tons of rides to choose from to keep me happy.

WOW OH WOWEE WOW WOW!!! I would like to see that concept in America, maybe in a Mall or even at an amusement park restaurant itself. I'm sure the sight of seeing those "food on wheels" rolling down the track to the awaiting customers worth be well worth the price of admission itself, probably have more spectators watching the show than the customers eating at those tables.

HOLY MOLY!!! I'm glad I wasn't on that type of ride (in fact, I'm glad I wasn't anywhere outside of my home state of Virginia). To quote a statement from thrillrideseeker: I'm glad there weren't any fatalities, but an accident such as this could cause those riders to never board another thrill ride again. At Adventureworld in 1993 (later to become Six Flags America), I was riding the Falling Star. The ride malfunctioned and it just went up, around, and down slowly until they managed to shut off the ride, causing us to drift to a complete stop and enabling us to exit the ride until maintenance could inspect the ride and reopen it as soon as possible. The cause of the malfuntion was just a bug in the computer, so the computer was rebooted and the ride was reopened 15 minutes later.

I guess Cedar Fair's position on making all double tracks, out and back coasters (in Kings Dominion, Carowinds, and Kings Island) run forward so they could bring back the dueling element which is becoming the next new thing in coasters. I remember how fun it was when you had two coasters running side by side and cheering when it was your side that beat the other train. I wonder if they are planning to add an extra element such as flashing lights and a voice from the loudspeaker that shouts "And the winner is . . . Right side (or Left side)!" They do that part at Hersheypark on a dueling coaster called Lighting Racer. In the mid 90's, one side ran backwards to give a different riding experience from those that rode the forward side. Now, in season 2008, Cedar Fair is bring the dueling, racing element back. Which side are you going to ride?

Any mine train ride from any park (especially from Six Flags parks) would have a tough time fitting into another park due to its track being conformed to the surrounding terrain. Thundernation, a mine train coaster in SILVER DOLLAR CITY is built from the side of a hill and would be impossible to be moved elsewhere. And I should add some of the coasters in HERSHEYPARK can also be fit into that category, especially in one section of the park in which the SUPERDOOPERLOOPER, COAL CRACKER , and THE GREAT BEAR are intertwined with each other. Ditto goes to TRAILBLAZERS and STORM RUNNER. As for my opinion, no coaster (once built) should need to be moved unless absolutely necessary. * * * * * * "Welcome to Kings Dominion, Dominator - May your stay with us be a happy one!" (at Geauga Lake) "Where have all the coasters gone? "Is it true that HEAD SPIN may be coming to us next year?" (still at Geauga Lake)"Please, no more. I can't take this!" "Maybe we should get the Villain as well. It should make a great addition somewhere in Kings Dominion." (while leaving the grounds once known as Geauga Lake)"Hey, happy guy at Kings Dominion, kiss my !!!

My favorite train is located in Cedar point in which the second half of the train ride takes you through Bonesville and you get to see skeletons acting out different scenes in a ghost town. My second favorite train is located in Busch Gardens Europe which has three ports and takes you all around the park. And my third favorite train is in Dollywood. Gee, I wonder what are the favorite trains of some of these Emoticons: "My favorite train is that Long Black Train. It take you to my park which nothing runs." "Since that opposite is quoting song titles, I'll say it's that Railway to Heaven." "Huh? What was the question again?" "Are you kidding me? It's the Railways at Disneyland. Every mouse knows that!" "Who cares about that those slow-moving trains? I prefer any train that runs on any roller coaster!" "What's my favorite train? Gee, I don't know?" "Love Train by the O'Jays!" (no answer from this Emoticon: just doing what it does best)

First, I want to thank KGA29 for straighten me out on a few coasters from my last post. Secondly, I think I should better explain to coolhandluke when he asked: No, I didn't mean the Dominator. What I meant was the exact site that the Hypersonic XLC once stood will be the same site of Kings Dominion's newest coaster to debut next season (2009). I'm looking forward to ride the Dominator this season and I don't see this floorless coaster pointless. I was just mentioning the fact that Kings Dominion is getting rid of an awesome launch coaster and replacing (in its place) a coaster that almost every park has (I have no qualms about riding the Boomerang coasters; in fact, I love to ride in the back seats). And finally, I shall repeat what I said:

"Oh let the speculations begin!" Here's one country to consider: Greece. Why not? Greece is an European counrty and the area describe in article is near Escape from Pompeii attraction which would tie in nicely with the theming.

Well, speaking about my home park of KINGS DOMINION, I believe the act of removing Hypersonic XLC and replacing with another Boomerang coaster is pointless. I'm sure there are many reasons Cedar Fair is doing this (low rider queuing and high maintencing), but to replace it with another coaster that almost every park has got to be insulting. For many years and seasons I've been attending KINGS DOMINION, I always had the pride of knowing that some of the attractions the park has are unique and cannot be found at any other park. The Volcano: the Blast Coaster- what other park has that sort of ride? The same goes to Avalanche and the Ricochet (what other wildmouse coaster begins with a fifty foot drop?) and the Shockwave , the last stand-up coaster of its kind? Now I could be jumping the gun here because I don't know what modifications they could be planning to add to this boomerang coaster nor even know if the new coaster will be a boomerang at all. But I hoping for the best that the new attraction that replaces Hypersonic XLC would be deemed worthy and not pointless.

I'm so embarrassed! I decided to start another topic on the funniest thing that happened at a park that you saw happened or had happened to you, only to have my topic locked because we already have that topic posted. "Well, why didn't you use the search engine?" Well, I DID use the search engine and it gave me a bunch of mismatches that had nothing to do with the topic I submitted and I wasn't going to read all 2000 and some matches when the first ten or so were all junk! So I thought it was safe to post. Oh well, no use crying over spilt milk (although it's okay to cry over a roller coaster that's not operating). But since I'm here, I've got another funny story that happened at Carowinds and it happened to me. I was standing in line to ride Borg and the queuing line is under the track. As a train came roaring past overhead, something hit me in the eye! Guess what it was? The object was an eyeliner brush and it was still wet with mascara. Somebody riding Borg lost their eyeliner brush as it flew out and painted my eyelashes (which is the very last thing I need). I got the attention of one of the attendents, but we couldn't find who lost their eyeliner brush. "It's just my luck: why couldn't it be someone who lost some loose change. It had to be an eyeliner brush!

Looking at those sexy pictures caused me to be ! This looks like a park with the kiddie theme, but still having some thrills to satisfy a thrill seeker like myself. Best of all, because the park is indoor, the park can be opened 365 days a year (okay, maybe the park will be closed on certain holidays, but it'll be opened during the winter season where it'll be roasty and toasty inside). Once again, nice pictures.

Greetings everyone!!! Encouraged by the number of reponses from my last topic about saving money at parks, I decided to open another topic. This time, I want to hear funny stories about incidents you saw or had yourself at a park one day. Remember: no cruelty allowed!!! I'll begin with a doozy: Way back in 1990, I was in Myrtle Beach at a park called The Pavilion and I was standing in line to ride a dark ride called The Haunted Hotel. This was my third ride of the night and the line for the ride was long, so I decided to pass the time by watching the riders when they exit the ride. After a while, a car came out of the swinging doors and there were no rider inside! I thought to myself That's strange, there's a lot of riders waiting to board this ride. Why would the operator send an empty car out? Suddenly, three little kids popped their heads out from the car, realizing that the ride was over, and quickly got out. The ride was so scary for those three kiddies they hid underneath the car seat until the ride was over. I told this story to the operator and he laughed. Me and ride operator. Well, that's my funny story, but I bet you all out there have one that's even funnier. Well, let's here it.

silvercrew1 asked a question: Unfortunately, that is true with SFNE and many other theme parks; they will not allow any outside food to pass within their gates. Some parks, such as Cedar point, do provide picnic area in which outside food is allowed, but it must not leave the picnic area. With such a rule in place, you are left with three choices: buy the food in the park, walk out to your vehicle to get something to eat, or go hungry.

I must have been lucky, I've never have been to a park that I felt was too rundown, making me wish I was elsewhere. Of course, I could say when I went to GHOST TOWN IN THE SKY in August 2007 they only had four rides running (not counting kiddie rides, just rides an adult could go on) due to other rides still under construction (still waiting for CLIFFHANGER to reopen). However, I do plan on returning to GHOST TOWN on a future season when they have the other rides up and running (and maybe adding a cool ride or two). As for Lakemont park in Altoona, I don't think park is bad. Still, I feel they need to add another coaster (a boomerang or a wildcat would be nice) and even add something to their water side of the park. Try going on a day when LEAPS the DIPS isn't running and that would be bad. I also hate their flat ride called the SKYDIVER (it's more like a medieval chest-crushing torture device to me). Hey, I happen to own the most saddest, despicable amusement park in H. . .E. . .(double hockey sticks). Lots of rides, but they don't run! Look on the bright side, no motion sickness!!!

I hate the whole idea of fast passes, especially this is the #1 why I wouldn't return to any Disney parks. For example, I went to the Magic Kingdom and got a fast pass to ride Thunder Mountain Railroad. I had to wait a least an hour before I could go on (due to the time restriction listed on the fast pass), so I went to stand in line to ride Splash Mountain (they were next door) and waited an awful long time. After I finally rode Splash Mountain, I barely beat the one hour time window listed on my fast pass to ride Thunder Mountain. In all, it took me 90 minutes to ride both rides. I feel if the fast passes weren't being used, I probably would have ridden both rides in under an hour (that's my opinion). As for the Q-bots, there aren't that many riders that used them, so I don't feel affected, still I wish there weren't such a thing as fast passes. In other words: I HATE THOSE (use your own swear word here) FAST PASSES!!!

It's been nearly ten days since I began this new topic on saving money and the responses I received were outstanding. (What I'm Doing Now) I want to thank each and everyone of you who posted and gave other riders many ideas on how to save money at an amusement park, some of those ideas I may adopted for my own on my next trip. Before I continue, some clarification: On my ice water tip, I prefer to use the sinks instead of water fountain for two reasons: I can fill the cup up faster and easier and to avoid the looks and wraths of the thirsty others waiting for this SOB to finish filling up his cup so when it comes to their turn at the fountain the water is lukewarm, thinking that I stoled their cold water. Besides, GHOST TOWN IN THE SKY didn't have any water fountains, so after I finished my soda I had no choice but to use the sink. DOLLYWOOD did have a few restaurant that offered free ice water, so I took advantage of it (not to mention refilling the cup at the sink so I could use all the ice). With that now out of the way, I am asking, "Any more money-saving tips out there?"

I was about to tell you how excited I was to be reading something from the past concerning the LOCH NESS MONSTER until you added some articles on roller coaster accidents. I'm very thankful that I've never been riding a coaster in which a terrible accident occurred, nor stood in the queuing line when an accident occurred, nor even been at the park the day when such a tragedy had occurred. I believe the last accident I know in which someone dies after being tossed off had to be the handicapped elderly man who was thrown from Superman : Ride of Steel at Six Flags New England. All Superman rides of steels were closed and extra restraints were added and tighten to prevent an occurence like that ever again (not to mention PO'ed a few people who once ride the ride, but now couldn't due to new restraints). As for me and my long bulky legs, I can only sit down in certain seats due to restrictive (and most unneeded) black plastic pads, thanks to someone who shouldn't have gotten on the ride anyway and to those attendants who failed to recognized that anything was wrong. But I'm not trying to lessen those accidents in those past articles; any roller coaster accident is a tragedy no matter who's fault it is: the rider, the attendants, and/or the ride itself. The point is in the aftermath of such accident: what was learned and what can we do to make sure no one else will suffer in a similar accident.

First and Formost, bring back Rocket Rods or perhaps Peoplemover v2. Secondly, Update Star Tours with new concept (perhaps a tryout center for Pod Racing?). Third, Change Innovations into the world's largest play area (I've been to Epcot and they offer many exciting games played with large teams such as the Space Race and Robot Racer). And Finally (not just to Tomorrowland but to all lands and other Disneyparks) GET RID OF THE FAST PASSES!!! I HATE IT! IN THE END, IT DOESN'T SAVE ANY TIME!!! Okay, I'm calmed down a bit . . . This is my 70th post. Past out the champagne!!!

Years ago, I did my walk of shame, but it wasn't from a coaster, it was from a flat ride called "The Claw" at Hersheypark. I got on and I couldn't get the doggone restraint locked down. That nevered happened to me before; I mean, I was able to ride the other rides and coasters and never had a problem with either of them. Well, "The Claw" were designed by skinny winks to be ridden by skinny winks. So I went on a diet and managed to get to 235 (my usual weight is 250). I went back up to Hersheypark, back to "The Claw", and managed to lock that doggone restaint down. I stretched out my arms and yelled "OH YEAH!!!" while the other riders looked at me and wondered what was the deal with me. That can be a big shot of self esteem in the arm for you.

As for my take on the House of the Future, I guess every generation needs to have a look into the possible future that may or may not come true. Such exhibits would amaze and inspire the future coaster riders (aka - children) of the exciting prospects of the future. Of course, in the past, the houses of the future often exhibits items may not become fashionable (like the "egg, toast, and coffee machine" that will make coffee, boil eggs, and make toast in one push of a button. That hasn't appear on the Wal-mart shelves yet and it's been fifteen years!), but still it is fun to image the future. Still, it's often possible that the house of the future could miss some things that are now commonplace today. I never seen ipods, home theaters, and recliners with the add-on remote controls built in ever featured in a house of the future in the past. But having home security systems and televisions with a billion channels were depected before and are now here today. Still, I'm interested to see what the house of the future will be depected and see what the house of the future becomes in reality.